Muscat: Labour power plans credible and doable
A Nationalist government would raise electricity tariffs even further and endanger the livelihoods of Enemalta workers, PL leader Joseph Muscat said this evening.
Dr Muscat spoke about the PL's energy plans during a rally in Msida, saying the health benefits of removing dependence on heavy fuel oil made the plan worthwhile even without cost benefits factored in.
The PL’s plan would see both Delimara power stations converted to gas with private sector involvement. The party believed the plan would lead to average savings of 25 per cent on electricity bills and five per cent on the cost of water, Dr Muscat said.
Around 27,000 lower-income households would save 35 per cent on their bills, with 103,000 families saving 30 per cent, Dr Muscat said. Savings for more intensive electricity users will be much lower, scaling down gradually to two per cent.
Describing the plan as “concrete, realistic and credible,” Dr Muscat said he was convinced there was plenty of interest, “both locally and internationally”, from private sector investors in the plan. Those who thought otherwise “don’t understand the entrepreneurial spirit,” Dr Muscat said.
He warned Enemalta workers that their livelihoods were at stake under the present government. “Just as the Government turned on dockyard, Air Malta and Sea Malta workers, next time it will be their turn,” he said.
He said the PL plan would save some €187 million annually in generation costs. Reducing electricity and water bills would eat away €77 million of those savings. The remaining €110 million would be diverted towards paying off some of Enemalta’s debt of approximately €800 million.
Consumers would also receive some of the savings from water generation, he said. With local groundwater reserves being fast depleted or polluted, the remaining savings would be used to invest in water conservation infrastructure.
The plan also see the unsightly Delimara chimney knocked down and give residents there cleaner, healthier air to breathe, Dr Muscat said.
“Where are the other side’s energy proposals?” the PL leader charged. “Now they’re claiming that they were planning on doing what we’re proposing already. So why didn’t they do it, when they had so much time and so many chances?” he said as the crowd laughed and applauded.
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C Cassar
Jan 9th, 09:26
Biss Tonio Fenech ghandu ftit ragun... Ghalfejn tixtri 4 karozzi jekk bi 3 tkun komdu??? Il-karozza z-zejda trid thallasha xorta.
Issa r-raba karozza se jixtriha l-privat 300m. Dan irid ihallas l-gas, trasport u l-investiment. Il-privat jikkalkula profitti ta xi 7% fis-sena minbarra li jrid igib lura t 300m. Jekk l-gas se jkun hedged se joghla aktar.
L-PL ikkalkula figura ta 9c6 u thallas kollox!
Alex Falzon
Jan 9th, 09:18
This is only an energy proposal full of loopholes... and no guarantees it will work and/or attract private investors to inject thousands of millions with no profit for a minimum of ten years. this project will see its light at least in two/three years time...
Daniel Dreano
Jan 9th, 09:06
I pity Tonio Fenech. He is desperately trying to pour cold water on PL's energy proposal but under a PN government what did we get? Heavy fuel oil with all its health and economic burdens. I believe in what Konrad Mizzi is saying and I am being positive about this. PN took us in the wrong direction. PL wants to take us in the healthier and cheaper one. I reiterate, this is the way forward.
joe farrugia
Jan 9th, 08:53
wara dan ix-xenarju tal proposti tad-dawl jidher bic-car li hemm xi kumpanija li qed tiffinanzja il kampanja elettorali tal PL ghax donnu jidher li ghanhom kollox iprogrammat u talior made ghal xi hadd partikulari.Izda biex jithalsu certi obbligi ser ikollu jhallas il poplu min imniehru f'taxxi ohra.
Kenneth Williams
Jan 9th, 09:22
Sewwa qed tghid Joe.... ghaxar miljuni l hawn u ghaxar miljuni l hemm mhux fejn tkun ser tibqa? Jaqaw tal BWSC hekk kienet?? Jien nahseb li Joseph il konsulent min fuq il Yellow Pages sabu xi tghid??? Kemm ilna nhallsu min imniehierna mit taxxi hu il 5oo mitt euro fil gimgha lill ministri....hu l waste serve minn progett ta miljun spara ghal 29 miljun....u listorja tkompli......
Mark. Galea
Jan 9th, 08:42
din bhas-soltu - jekk l-(M)LP jghidilna nivvotaw kontra l-VAT, naghmlu hekk, jekk kontra l-EU naghmlu hekk, imbaghad wara naraw ...
Rennie Mercieca
Jan 9th, 08:07
PN appologists are trying shoot down this project. I wonder why? however, no one is explaining the pn proposal on electricity! Or there is none?
Mr Mike Farrugia
Jan 9th, 07:59
What about the maintenance costs of the distribution system? Decrease of efficiency of the proposed and the BWSC plant with time? They will lose efficiency in 10 years time. Have they been accounted for in the costings?
susan matrenza
Jan 9th, 07:35
ghalinqas ghandna partit li qed jaghti proposti .
jidher bi car li din hi proposta konkreta u jduru kemm idduru ftit hemm x tikritika
John Scerri
Jan 9th, 08:10
Ghaziza Susan Matrenza..sewwa qieghda tghid fuq il-lejber ghax il-partit l-iehor qed jaghti risultati fil-qasam tax-xoghol, turizmu,sahha, edukazjoni .
Grazzi ghal PN, tul dawn l-ahhar hames snin Malta iggieldet ir -ricessjoni b'success meta madwarna hemm nies, studenti, haddiema jipprotestaw fit-toroq.
Jekk dan ma tarahx bhala success ma nafx x'jista jkun.
Jibqa dejjem x`wiehed itejjeb.
DUNCAN FABRI
Jan 9th, 07:13
thanks dr muscat ghax qed tahseb fi nies ta south
sahhet il poplu jigi qabel kull kliem fierah li jghidu .
ghajjena bil mard , bsahhitna dejjem sejra lura u bi kliem u paroli u fatti xejn
GRAZZIIIIIII U PROSET
John Scerri
Jan 9th, 06:53
A Nationalist government would raise electricity tariffs even further and endanger the livelihoods of Enemalta workers,
Similar to what labour said about health prior 2008 election .
More of the same.
Dear JM you told me you would tell me by how much, when and how my electricity bill will be reduced.
You showed me a proposal and nothing else .
No substance ...no Vote.
Mario Camilleri
Jan 9th, 08:14
Read the article and you will have all the answers for your questions. ....but do read it!!!
Richard Caruana
Jan 9th, 06:52
This whole proposition is anything but credible. It will only be so when all the workings and costings are published, and one can see how much leeway has been factored into the figures, both in finance and time of execution.
Without them, PL is asking us to believe what it says without presenting any proof.
We did so with the VAT affair, not again JM, never again.
carmelo buttigieg
Jan 9th, 06:47
grazzi dr muscat
fl ahhar hawn xi hadd qed jahdem favur in nies tal marsa u ta south .
haddiehor joqghod fostna u lilna ta south abbandunana . mhux talli hekk talli hames snin ilu weghdna il genna u hlief kollox bil kontra ma ghamilx .
ma nriedux power station li tkomlpi toqtolna u llum qed naraw bi car li hawn min vera jinteressah
ahjar flok parlament bla sens ha hsieb sahhitna
John Grech
Jan 9th, 03:43
Mela jm qed jghid li bil pn fil gvern il haddiema se jispiccaw bhal tat Tarzna, airmalta etc. mela jm int mhux se Ggib kumpaniji privati biex jiggeneraw l electriku u tahseb li dawn il kumpaniji se joqghodu ghas sistemi Tal enemalta. Kemm hsibtna injuranti??????
Joseph Aquilina
Jan 9th, 01:02
Most of the lejber diehard comments have little to no value at all. All Maltese know that even if the plan is not credible, even if not doable, lejber supporters will vote lejber just the same as they voted against the EU because lejber told them to do so! That is why lejber is a danger to our country, because its strenght is not in facts but in those who support them like they support a ftb team.
Karl Consiglio
Jan 9th, 00:27
What we pay now is a sacrifice until better times, but what the PL are proposing is a gamble in the dark.
Robert Agius
Jan 9th, 08:19
Have they told you that debt now runs at 33,000 Euros per family.....now that is a sacrifice, until better times right? well, you might be waiting in the dark for those 'better times' cause the 5b in debt definitely has not reaped much benefit now, did it? Tell me how that wasn't a gamble?
Tommy Vella
Jan 9th, 08:40
@ Robert Agius.
cause the 5b in debt definitely has not reaped much benefit now, did it?
I think those "5b in debt" were thrown away.
Look around you man and you will see a new hospital, a new airport, better roads, a new school built every year, a much improved university, a new Mcast campus (still in process), better looking fortifications, new industries, a new power station, a new ....
Joseph Grech Attard
Jan 8th, 23:29
We have been promised 'money no problem' and heaven on earth by the PN and GonziPN. Surely we have never been in such a dire situation. Both PN and GonziPN failed and are not credible. The LP should be given a chance to prove its credibility. How can one accuse of incredibility when one has not seen the results? Guilty before given a chance to prove oneself? That's very dangerous.
Alan Deidun
Jan 8th, 23:10
replaced by gas, not by oil, of course (that's what I meant in my earlier comment)
Alan Deidun
Jan 8th, 23:07
the chimney will go from Delimara, HFO will be replaced by oil but practically a new 200MW powerstation will be built in Delimara, for which there is no need since, with the interconnector and the BWSC extension, we will already be meeting our demands...hence, cleaner fuel, but burning loads more..huge waste..why dont the PL and the PN reach a consensus on simply converting the BWSC plant to gas?
Giocchino Attard
Jan 9th, 08:15
Its like fixing an old house it is cheaper to biuld a new one.
P Micallef
Jan 8th, 22:56
Gonzi and the PN want the LP to publish the detailed plans of its strategy to reduce energy tariffs while the PN Government always refused to publish similar studies not to divulge sensitive commercial information. For example todate they have not yet published the agreement for the lease/purchase of St. Philip's Hospital. Hypocracy at its best.
sammy cassar
Jan 8th, 22:45
And here it is ladies and gentlemen ; "Joseph and his Electricity Dream .....' . It's Electrifying! By the time we understand what he is trying to say ..... ok let me stop here.
John Bonello
Jan 8th, 22:41
Is this the same scaremongering like health service would not remain free if a PN government is elected or the thousand of foreign workers from Sicily if we vote for the E.U. I think JM forgot that the new Power station project was approved from the E.U, it works on heavy fuel but it is within the EU recommended standards. therefore it does not emit toxic gases which are considered dangerous.
John Bonello
Jan 8th, 22:33
the plan will never be worthwhile more countries are converting to gas which results in high demand thereof high gas prices. If investors will be making losses through high gas prices, they would want to reduce their expenditure therefore laying off Enemalta workers, Tax payers would have to fork out the Investors losses through subsidies & the pay off for the workers.
John Zammit
Jan 8th, 22:19
Thumbs up at the way Dr.Muscat ids conducting the election Campaign
Peter Aguis
Jan 8th, 21:58
So for enemlta to hold it needs to be subsided 25M each year. Now it sells its energy directly. Lp proposal is to have the private sector sell to enemlta, at ofcourse the price the consumer buys or cheaper. Thus making less profit then the current enemlta. Thus making it unprofitable for them. Lp will not find anyone to take the tender. And if it is so profitable why give it to the private sector?
B. Farrugia
Jan 8th, 21:45
This time labour has done their homework, and a teacher gave them 9 out of 10.
C Busuttil
Jan 8th, 21:40
Honestly I am impressed, never expected from labour to come foward with such serious proposal.
Ghal darba ghamiltu xhaga tajba !
Edward Gatt
Jan 8th, 21:35
"Savings for more intensive electricity users will be much lower, scaling down gradually to two per cent."
Last week Labour said that with the introduction of the plans every household would be able to calculate exactly what its savings would be. So, can Joseph Muscat now tell us who are the heavy users who would only be saving two per cent?
Carmel Camilleri
Jan 8th, 21:22
This is just a case similar to Vat which Sant wanted to eliminate and the electorate swallowed.
Alan Xuereb
Jan 8th, 21:17
Id dahhaqx nies sur Muscat!
Giocchino Attard
Jan 9th, 08:20
mentalita xiha
John Zammit
Jan 8th, 21:16
Thumbs up for the way Dr.Muscat is conducting the election campaign. Just focusing on what he wants to Do
Mr Danny Apap
Jan 8th, 21:16
Could the investors be the same ones we have in the UK? Since they took over the utilities the cost of Electric, Gas, Water and Highways keeps going up every other Six months above the inflation rate and when the cost of oil goes down they never bring their prices down! Good luck
Victor Vella
Jan 8th, 21:04
Mela ghalhekk dabbartlu rasu lill Anglu, ghax kixfek li l-ilma mhux ser jorhos.
Brian Bonnici
Jan 8th, 20:54
Well done! This is Labor party. I am from Birzebbuga and removal of the chimney that spoiled the area is great news! PN out ideas and they both look ahead in their slogan. The important thing is that their faces are exploded with makeup foundation! Look ahead yes..look at our new goverment, our new MALTA we all LOVE!
Nadya Debono
Jan 8th, 22:26
Keep dreaming! We will see in a few years time what your blessing party will achieve! Up to now- only promises without any back up
M Gafa
Jan 8th, 23:10
@ brian bonnici maybe they will remove the chimney 'maybe' but if you watched closely they are are also proposing a gass storage facility in marsaxlokk and birzebbugia bay incredable kif certu nies sal ponta ta imnihirom jaraw,
Stephen Brincat
Jan 9th, 05:58
Ivotta lill Franco, dak ser jaghti kumpens li nies ta Marsaxlokk u Birzebbuga....u int qed temmen kollox?
pat muscat
Jan 8th, 20:47
It is clear that GonziPN has already lost its battle for sustainable cheaper and cleaner energy. It had wasted 5 years to come with something concretely and credible; instead all it has to show is a lousy, moribund heavy fuel oil power station.
Byron Abela
Jan 8th, 20:44
Does Muscat think floating voters are gullable? How can we believe such a plan, without knowing who the investors are, if there are any, and how can they assume change in the price of gas.
Certainly I expected something better. Nothing compared to the Labour of the 70s which had more credible policies (like them or not)
Andrew Siad
Jan 8th, 21:28
you are no floater at all. we re not gullible
R. Stivala
Jan 8th, 21:50
Obviously you watch only Net TV, since Dr Muscat and the investors which are going to help explained exactly how this was going to be done...
I recomend you start watching some other programs rather than Net TV :)
C Muscat
Jan 8th, 22:35
You do not have to believe because the concept is already available for panels. It is persons like you that make me understand why we are burdened by GonziPN. The investors are not known now because we need to change that everything goes for il-hbieb tal-hbieb like zaren. It will be competitive all the way. This method of procurement, fair competion, I always mange to save between 25 to 40%.
sammy cassar
Jan 8th, 22:41
spot on Byron. and also new voters (19,000) do not care about electricity bills anyway and the floaters are much more intelligent that PL and dear Joseph think. This is all so confusing that no one is understanding anything.
R Axisa
Jan 9th, 07:03
zgur li mhux investitur imfittex minn fuq il-yellow pages. Jidher li JM ilu jaghmel il-homework sew. Sadanittant, il-PN kien biss tajjeb biex jikritika dan il-pjan u s'issa ghadu ma hareg bl-ebda proposta kif hu se jrahhas il-kontijiet. Kont nistenna lil Lou Bondi jsaqsi lil Tonio Fenech dwar dan. Issa nistenna lil Peppi jsqasi lir-rapprezentant tal-gvern dwar dan.
Ray Buhagiar
Jan 8th, 20:32
Dawk in-nies (zghazagh, tfal etc) li jpoggu wara l-mexxeja taz-zewg partiti - dawk jithallsu tas-saghtejn li jahlu jisimghu dak li jistghu jaqraw f'10 minuti
Andrew Pullicino
Jan 8th, 22:34
Dawk huma zghazagh li jien u inti nhalssu it-taxxa biex huma jitghallmu l-iskola u ikollom l-istupendjuu, imma minflok joqoghdu id-dar jahdmu ghal ezamijiet huma jahlu hinom fl-attivitajiet politici.
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